Repeatability of Non-invasive Tear Film Evaluation in Healthy Rabbit Eyes

Abstract

Purpose

The current study investigated the normative data values and repeatability of non-invasive tear film tests using Oculus Keratograph 5M in rabbit eyes.

Methods

Triplicate analysis of tear film parameters [tear meniscus height (TMH), non-invasive tear break up time (NIBUT), bulbar congestion, meibography] of 38 healthy adults New Zealand white rabbits (mean age, 13 ± 4.7 months) was performed using Oculus keratograph 5M (K5M). Bland-Altman analysis was used for testing repeatability.

Results

Thirty-eight rabbits (N = 76 eyes) weighing 2.5 ± 0.4 kg were studied. The mean NIBUT values of the right and left eye were 14.3 ± 5.8 and 12.3 ± 5.8 s, respectively. The mean central TMH values were 0.43 ± 0.23 and 0.33 ± 0.14 mm in the right and left eye, respectively. Meibography showed closely placed, wide meibomian glands running vertically with no distorted or gland loss areas. There were no differences between the eyes for the above parameters. Bland-Altman plot showed good repeatability for both NIBUT and TMH values.

Conclusion

The non-invasive tear film parameters show good repeatability using keratograph 5M and can be used as an objective parameter for rabbit ocular surface experiments.

Keywords:

• Rabbit
• dry eye disease
• keratograph
• tear meniscus height
• non-invasive tear break-up time

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. Anirudh for his help with animal handling for this study and Dr. Mohammad Hasnat Ali, biostatistician, LVPEI, Hyderabad for his help with statistics.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [S.S. and S.B.], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board Start-up Research Grant (SERB-SRG) (SRG/2021/000131), from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; And by the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation (HERF), Telangana, India.